Houston attorney Tony Buzbee on Tuesday announced a wrongful-death lawsuit on behalf of the parents of Brianna Marie Aguilera, a 19-year-old Texas A&M University student who died after falling 17 stories from a high-rise apartment balcony near the University of Texas campus late last November.
Aguilera’s death, which occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 29 following the college rivalry football game, was initially investigated by the Austin Police Department (APD), which suggested the fall was a suicide. Police pointed to a deleted “suicide note” on her phone and previous statements they interpreted as indicators of self-harm.
At a press conference, however, Buzbee disputed that narrative, calling the investigation “rushed and incomplete” and asserting that evidence does not support a suicide ruling. He said Aguilera’s family saw no signs she intended to harm herself and that key forensic results — including toxicology and autopsy findings — were still pending.
New Lawsuit, New Questions
Filed Monday in Travis County, the lawsuit names two Austin organizations: the Austin Blacks Rugby Club and the University of Texas Latin Economics and Business Association. Buzbee argues both groups hosted and served alcohol at an underage tailgate where Aguilera was present hours before her death and was allegedly “grossly overserved,” contributing to her impaired condition.
The parents — Stephanie Rodriguez and Manuel Aguilera — are seeking more than $1 million in damages, including punitive relief, accusing the defendants of negligence and violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code.
Claims of a Missed Key Witness
A major point of contention raised by Buzbee is that APD failed to interview a nearby resident who says she heard an argument and screaming from the apartment before Aguilera’s fall — testimony he argues is critical to understanding what happened. The neighbor, Dannah Rodriguez, told reporters that police only took a brief statement and did not follow up, despite potentially relevant observations. Buzbee has publicly criticized investigators for not contacting her for a full interview and not aggressively pursuing other leads.
Buzbee also suggested police discouraged witnesses from speaking with Aguilera’s family and attorneys without subpoenas, which he said further hampered the discovery of facts.
Who Is Tony Buzbee?
Tony Buzbee is a prominent and controversial Houston trial lawyer known for handling high-profile and headline-grabbing cases. He founded The Buzbee Law Firm and over his career has pursued major litigation, including mass torts and multimillion-dollar verdicts. He was featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine for his role in litigation tied to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and has been recognized with numerous large verdicts and settlements in personal injury and wrongful-death cases.
Recent work has kept him in public view:
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He represented dozens of women in lawsuits involving Deshaun Watson and other athletes.
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He filed a $750 million suit on behalf of Astroworld crowd-crush victims.
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Buzbee defended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment trial, resulting in Paxton’s acquittal.
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In 2025, he brought a $50 million lawsuit accusing media personality Shannon Sharpe of rape and abuse; that matter was settled out of court.
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He has also made headlines for legal actions involving Sean “Diddy” Combs and naming Jay-Z in broader litigation.
- In the world of sports, Buzbee’s claim to fame was suing Deshaun Watson in his massage assaults
While Buzbee has earned a reputation for securing large verdicts — including multimillion-dollar awards and recognitions in legal rankings — some of his high-profile cases have also drawn criticism and controversy, particularly those involving celebrities and allegations of misconduct.
What Comes Next
The Aguilera lawsuit is likely to intensify scrutiny of both the circumstances of her death and the thoroughness of the APD investigation. Buzbee has urged anyone with information about the night of Aguilera’s fall to come forward, and he has indicated he may push for state investigators, such as the Texas Rangers, to take over if local authorities don’t expand their efforts.
As legal proceedings continue, both sides are expected to fight over evidence, witness testimony and whether the fatal fall was a tragic accident, suicide, or the result of negligence.
Flip the pages for photos of Brianna Aguilera.
